Never "too old" for a play date ...

Several months ago, two of my friends and I decided we didn't see enough of each other, and determined to change that. I utterly adore these two fabulous women--in their own unique ways, they bring out the best in me. And sometimes snorting, when the three of us are together.

We agreed to meet regularly; the standing monthly appointment is on my calendar as a "Mental Health Break." We meet at Laughing Planet and hilarity ensues. Really, if you can't laugh at Laughing Planet ... At first, it seemed a little, well, silly, that three grown people would have to purposely schedule time to just hang out and catch up. But now we have done a few times, this is one appointment I don't want to miss.

We have no agenda for what's become a play date. We tried that once, an agenda. It didn't work. We were unanimous in that. So, we have no defined deliverable; there's no key indicator or metric used to measure our productivity. Wait. Scratch that. There is at least one measure ... how much my sides ache the following day from laughing at us. Laughter really is good medicine. And a fabulous ab workout. Never mind the dinosaurs. 

Last month, we discovered we all have birthdays within 30 days of each other. Who knows where it came from, but we ended up saying we should wear tiaras this month to celebrate. Kristina actually has one, and good girl, she wore it. I don't have a tiara, so I stopped at the craft store, and picked up supplies to make one. 

Unfortunately, Brenda couldn't join us this month. Since we didn't get to see her tiara, we made her a princess one. Complete with a castle, crown, cute little mirror, and frog prince (that I somehow managed to cut off in that bottom right corner). We'll deliver it tomorrow. :)

Two pictures at once ... talented paparazzi, we are.  

Long live play dates!! 

Forgotten UFO's

We all need them every now then ... a lovely, lazy weekend. This was one such. It's Sunday afternoon, and I just woke from a most delicious nap. {yawn}. One dog has assumed the position: belly up, feet against the wall, tail flat along the hallway, completely relaxed and sound asleep. The other is curled up at the foot of my bed, occasionally snoring. {bliss}

It seems a bit weird to intrude on the day's quietness by grabbing my iPad and plinking out a few lines. But you know what they say ... striking, hot irons, and all that.

I can hear spring enjoying the afternoon, too. The little house finches, sparrows, chickadees ... They are raising a ruckus in the rhododendron outside my window. The wind is taking advantage of the break in the rain and teasing the trees a bit and shadows dance across the far wall. I suppose I'll have to get up eventually, and go fill the bird feeder. Did you know, chickadees can be awfully pushy about dinner?

As low-key as it's been, it's also been an incredibly productive weekend. Saturday decided to pout. Or pour. Whatever. It bucketed. Which meant no outside chores (woo hoo!) and the opportunity to putter in my room. I cleaned, purged, organized, and found stuff I forgot I had!

There is the yarn I have finally acknowledged I will never turn into a project bagged and ready to be donated away. The photos FINALLY corralled into an album. A bulging bookshelf put back into order. The dusting put off too long. And, most importantly, the UFO's--UnFinished Objects--quilting projects rediscovered. Who knew I had stashed a few in THAT storage cupboard after I moved ... six years ago? Or tucked a few away in THAT drawer while I figured out how I wanted to organize my sewing room?

Doesn't matter, not really. They are found, fondly remembered, and now back on the To-Do list. I've neglected my sewing machine for far too long. Quilting is my form of therapy--the creative process, the soothing hum of the machine, the stunning finished products. I love shopping for fabric (especially if it's to be a gift), listening to what the fabric says it wants to be. I love the whole process. 

Left: a challenge quilt circa 2004, I think.
Middle: a crazy quilt started in 2001 (it's been tucked away a while)
Right: Round Robin circa 2005. 

Four of the twelve I found that are ready for backing, pinning, and quilting. I've challenged myself to finish at least 5 for the Scio Lamb and Wool Fair in May.  

I utterly adore batiks. I spent at least a year collecting fat quarters from different shops all over the state. I think my biggest stash might've come from the shop in Newport. I'm pretty sure I started this project in 2004. And I'm pretty sure it's been tucked away at least 3 years, maybe 4. I am really going to enjoy finishing this one. 

After dinner, I'm off to tame a UFO! 

So much inspiration, so little time

I'm not a big fan of recreating the proverbial wheel. Especially if someone else has been terrifically brilliant. So I go looking for inspiration, and I am very rarely disappointed. The problem is that--like with so many other things--there really can be too much of a good thing. 

Sometimes I wonder how I managed before Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest ... but then I remember my Pollyanna sees opportunity in, well, nearly everything.

When I kept the commitment to myself to start this project, I really did worry if I would have enough things to write about. At least, enough things of significance to write about. Or, more accurately, enough topics other people would think significant enough to read. Lately, I've noticed I make mental notes--gee, that photo or that interaction would be a great blog topic. And I have a space staked out in Evernote to corral them all. The Idea Bucket doth indeed runneth over. 

But back to my point about too much of a good thing: I've been spinning wheels lately, not quite sure where to start. Thinking about the right angle to approach a topic from. Deciding how to put down my thoughts in a coherent manner. Finding an appropriate photo or image. Catching myself editing a post I haven't even written yet. And then realizing another day has passed and there are more ideas flooding aforementioned Idea Bucket. 

Time to give myself permission to stop over-thinking things and just do. 

Ta-da. 

To-done. 

More to come ...

Spring cleaning infection

It happens annually. About this time. The overwhelming urge to purge, arrange, organize, clean. 

via Pinterest

This year, the spring cleaning virus has infected my diet as well. It's time to get serious about my health, my weight, my attitude and relationship with food. Out with the bad'uns. Time to make more room for the good stuff. 

For further inspiration, I reviewed my 2012 Counting list (see under "healthy habits" and "accomplishment--permission to abandon old stuff"). Yup. Time for a little more focused, and tangible discipline. 

Who's with me?

Make it count!

Happy little dragonflies

Speed limit

So far, 2012 has been … in a word: busy.

Things are moving and shaking. I’m spinning a lot of project plates just now, both on the work side and the personal side. I’m certainly not bored. Good grief, I have no time to be. And that’s great!
Busy is good. But some days, “busy” is a four-letter word.

As I age, I’m coming to know myself. I only have so much energy, and that ebbs and flows. Certain things charge me up, and those waves run high, fast, and strong. And yet I know I have to be careful, because I can only keep up the pace for so long. I’ve begun to learn my pattern, and I can feel when my endurance is starting to fade. I get wobbly; I start missing details and my attention span snaps.

If I’m paying attention, and I catch it quick enough, I can avert total disaster. Which makes charging the batteries that much easier and quicker. If I don’t catch it quick enough, those waves I’m riding start to crash. And I end up in a puddle. And it’s not always pretty. I don’t like puddling—because it usually means something gets mucked up while I’m recharging and recovering.

\~~/~~\~~/~~\~~/~~\~~/~~\~~~ 
Mario Andretti is credited with saying, "If everything's under control, you aren't going fast enough."



My disclaimer: There's a speed limit. And the flashing red & blue will graciously remind you what it is. Pay attention; don't crash the wall. It wins.
\~~/~~\~~/~~\~~/~~\~~/~~\~~~ 


Smack. The wall hit me this time. Hard. So much for thinking I had another week or two to slow down.

My Pollyanna needs a vacation. And the rest of me needs a nap.

Breathe. Breathe. Just breathe.

I have a wonderful collection of generous, brilliant friends. Recently, one of them shared an observation about 3 year olds and time-outs, here.
How fast is Warp 9? What speed comes after that? Whatever speed that is, for about the last 6 months, things in my world have been rocketing along at *that* speed. I've been struggling ... surfing the wave between excitement about change and projects moving forward and the associated overwhelm of managing a boatload of moving parts. Mario Andretti is credited with saying, "if everything's under control, you're not going fast enough." I am SO going fast enough.
I acknowledge and own that I'm naturally hard-wired to be a "super-achiever." At the same time, I'm a firm believer that all you can do is all you can do, and that is all. you. can. do. Some days "all" means more than others. I'm pretty sure I've hit the red-line limit of more. I think I need one of Laura's time outs.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. And let the inner, calm adult take the lead.

Four-eyes

This puzzle by Jan van Haasteren was a gift from one family member to another for Christmas 2011. Last week we made a bit of family night of it--dinner and a puzzle. It's been a while since we've done anything like this. And I had a blast.  

As you can see, there's a lot going on here. As with any puzzle, sometimes you have to check the back of the pieces ... to be sure they fit. 

After mom fit these two together (and was proud of herself for making a match!) I just happened to look at what she'd connected. 

Um. A for effort, momma. {giggle} But not quite. {giggle} Try again. 

>~~<~~>~~<~~>~~<

It strikes me this is a good analogy for life. There's a lot going on. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if things fit. And, pieces that seem to fit may not create the right picture. Double-check. If necessary, get someone else to look, too. And take pictures! The best memories are made of simple moments.   :)

More redneck lawn art

Two of my fabulous friends and I started a blog to help keep us [better] connected across the miles that separate us. My post this week is about redneck lawn art. I had a pleasant little promenade down memory lane browsing through my archived photos of Ferdinand, the old farm truck. Here are a few more of my favorite snaps: 

"I'm ready for my close-up"

the neighbor's cows are fascinated with him too ... 

this one gives me the impression Ferdie has a runny nose

I love the way the wheel turned out in this pic

spidey's web just about makes the perfect frame...

To count, or not to count. *That* is the question ...

Last year about this time, I sat contemplating whether or not I was going to set New Years Resolutions. What I ended up with was my 20-11 List: twenty things I wanted more of, and eleven things I wanted less of. A smart list, if I say it myself, and reviewing it throughout the year, one that helped me keep the important things important. 


-->--<-->--<-->--<--
I suppose I've always smelled faintly of chlorine. I learned to swim when I was four, and joined the swim team at seven. I swam competitively for 10 years, retiring from racing after high school. And I've managed to stay in the pool since. 


The difference between my workouts then and now is counting. When you're prepping for the next meet, yardage is important. When you're following the black line on the bottom of the pool to just stay in shape, yardage isn't as important as whether or not you're hitting your training heart rate. Some days I count laps, some days I don't. I find I'm more motivated, and feel better about my workout, on the days I count. There's a greater sense of accomplishment when I *know* I've put in a mile, instead of guesstimating I have done. Apparently, Coach, that training is a hard habit to break!


It dawned on me a couple days before Christmas that my morning workout is a good analogy for the rest of my life. I'm more motivated, and pay better attention when I'm counting. And I definitely don't pay as much attention to the stuff I don't count. 
-->--<-->--<-->--<--


So here's my 2012 List: Things to count. And not to count.

Count
Expressing gratitude	-       Acknowledging, in the moment, when someone does something I appreciate -       Saying “please” and “thank you”
Precious face-time with my family and friends	-       Family dinners -       Inside jokes -       Crazy capers from which legend is borne -       Puppy kisses -       See also “celebrations,” “laughter, “gratitude”
Snail mail	-       Sent … being tangible with family and friends across the miles -       Received … that isn’t a solicitation or a bill!
Healthy habits	-       Calories burned -       Miles swum -       Walks with friends -       Walks with the 4-leggeds -       See also “laughter” -       Mental health breaks: see also “moto,” “face-time”
Accomplishment	-       Finished projects -       Good books -       Permission to abandon old stuff
Celebrations	-       High fives -       Happy dances -       See also “face-time”
Laughter	-       Giggles -       Chortles -       Guffaws -       Snorts!
Moto rides!!!	-       Camping trips -       Wandering to nowhere particular -       See also “healthy habits”
Photo ops	-       Sunrises, sunsets -       Ocean, mountains, rivers, valleys -       Dogs, cats, kids, cows -       Face-time with friends -       Celebrations, accomplishment -       Moments that memories are made of (and legend, too)

Not Count
The number of times it is “my turn” to talk	When a friend has the floor … be still, and listen between the words (it’s what I hope they’d do for me)
When I don’t get my own way	In 5 years, will it really be important anyway?
Being right	Quarreling takes too much energy, and there never are any real winners
Minor personal inconvenience	Especially if it’s while being of service to someone
Unanticipated change in plans	Often, the best adventures are unplanned. Definitely don’t count if it’s family/friends changing it up.
How often I’m sent “up over” or “down under”	Being the young bendy one in the family means I’m climbing the ladder or crawling under the house to do…something I’d probably rather not. But, it’s precious time and relationship maintenance with my old people I wouldn’t trade for anything. Count under “face-time” and “accomplishment.”
Rainy days	It’s Oregon after all. It rains here. But it means fabulous green stuff and gorgeous blooming things.

* In no particular order

** Subject to change as I think of things to add

Well, hello 2012!

New Years Day toast. Courtesy of Martinellis.